Frederick a



No. 6l5,07|. v Patented Nuv. 29, I898. F. A. LEDWARD.

FURNITURE CLAMP.

(Application filed Feb- 11, 1898.)

(No Model.) I

Witnesses. Inventor.

Attorneys.

Tr E xnwms PETERS co. PHOYD-LITHO, WASHINGTON, by c UNITED STATES PATENTGFFIC-E.

FREDERICK A. LEDIVARD, ()F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF'lWVO-THIRDS TO S. \VALLACE MCKEE AND MILLARD E. STOCKIVELIJ,

OF SAME PLACE.

FURNITURE-CLAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,071, dated November29, 1898.

Application filed February 11, 1898- Serial No. 669,958. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. LED- WARD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFurniture- Olamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of clamps commonlyknown as table-clamps; and its objects are, first, to provide a clampwith which the bearing-blocks will both adjust themselves tothe positionof the surface to be acted upon, and, second, to so arrange the bearingfor the block at the back end of the clamp that it will always be directin whatever position the block may bear upon the object acted upon. Iattain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which' Figure 1 is an elevation of my clamp represented asacting upon posts connected bya' concavo-convex rail with the posts uponan angle, so that both of the blocks are thrown to one side to insure aperfect bearing without the use of wedge-shaped blocking and showing theopposite position of the posts and rail in outline. Fig. 2 is anelevation of the clamp, partially in section, to show the relativeposition of the several parts. Fig. 3 is a top plan of the back jaw ofthe clamp and its block. Fig. 4 is aside view of the same, partially insection, to show the position and action of its several parts; and Fig.5 is a perspective of the supporting-block plate at the back jaw of theclamp.

Similar letters referto similar parts throughout the several Views.

I construct the bar A with a series of notches a the whole length of thelower edge for the reception of the lug b on the inner surface of thebase I) of the arm of the jaws B and O for the purpose of holding thejaws firmly to place when the clamp is in active use for pressingobjects for forming glue-joints, &c. In the head-jaw I make use of theordinary handscrew D and its adj ustable head d.

I form a chamber 0 in the back jaw of the clamp for the reception of thespiral spring G, which is designed to act upon the bolt F to hold thehead E to normal position and insure its proper adjustment upon theobject to be clamped. This bolt passes through an aperture f in face ofthe jaw, which is made of conical form, so that the bolt may be carriedover in any direction to give the desired adjustment to the head E, allas indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 4:.

The back of the plate E is made convex, so that it may roll over theface of the jaw to the desired position, and I prefer that the face ofthe jaw be also made convex, as shown atf in Figs. 3 and 4, as by thismeans I am assured a more direct and positive bearing of the parts whenthe head is thrown to one side, as in Fig. 1, where I show the clamp inuse upon a chair-back with a concavo-convex rail I, which throws theposts I to an angle, so that the heads dand E are thrown from normalposition. WVith the ordinary clamp it would be necessary to use blocksspecially prepared for the purpose, while with my adjustable heads theywill adjust themselves to any position without special preparation, asindicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1.

Both of the heads are made adjustable, so that either of them may beplaced at any desired position on the bar, by which means it is possibleto use the clamp in places where but a short distance intervenes betweenthe object clamped and some obstacle, as in case of an object standingnear a wall or the floor. Another advantage attained by this means isthat the head bearing the screw is more convenient of adjustment thanthe other, as it is the one by which the clamp is handled, and isadjusted without the necessity of turning the clamp around or removingit from the object being clamped. The heads are each provided with aspring H, which is common for holding adjustable heads to position onthe bar.

I form the jaw C so that it projects a little distance above the blockE, so that, if desired, an article may be clamped thereby above thehead, which in many cases is necessary, as where the surface of bearingis not sufficient to cover the head E it may be clamped by theprojecting portion 0.

In Fig. 5 I show a perspective of the securing-block E, with spurs cwith which to secure it to the block E, though it may be secured byscrews or any other convenient device.

I find it desirable to face the heads with a pliable substance, asleather or kindred material, as e, so that it will not mar the articleto be clamped.

In Fig. 1 I represent the edge of the supporting-bar of the clamp asbearing against the convex side of the rail I, which is for the purposeof supporting it, so that the pressure upon the posts will not bend theraila common difficulty with the ordinary clamp.

The springs II are bedded in a groove h for the purpose, first, ofholding them steadily in position and, second, of carrying them belowthe surface of the bar, so that they Will not be inconvenient andbothersome by reason of coming in contact with objects or of tearing andbruising the hands of the operator.

Having thus fully described my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is

In a furniture-clamp, a supporting-bar, jaws longitudinally adjustablethereon, each independent of the other, adjusting-springs for holdingsaid jaws to normal position, a screw and adjustable head in one of saidjaws, and an adjustable head having a convex back surface acorresponding convex surface on the jaw to form a universal bearing forsaid head, a bolt secured to said head and passing through aconicalaperture in the jaw, and a spring to hold said head to normal position,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Signed at Grand Rapids, Michigan, February 5, 1898.

FREDERICK A. LEDWARD.

In presence of ITHIEL J. CILLEY, ANDREW ALLGIER.

